Medical History for Allergies to Insect Stings

Topic Overview

What did the insect look like? What color was it?
Did it have any distinctive patterns or other markings?

If you saw
the nest, what did it look like? Was it in the ground or in a shrub or
tree?

Where were you and what were you doing when you were stung?
How did the insect behave? Did it seem angry or agitated? Was it
provoked?

What part of your body was stung? Did the insect leave a
stinger behind? Did you remove the stinger? If so, did you keep the stinger?
(This may help identify the insect.)

How many times were you
stung?

Have you ever had a previous allergic reaction to a similar
sting? Have you ever had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to
a sting?

What are your main symptoms? When did they begin? How have your
symptoms developed, progressed, or changed since the bite or
sting?

Are you currently taking any medicines or are you allergic
to any medicines?

You may be asked to capture or kill the insect and bring it in for
identification.

You may be asked about previous stings and what reactions (if any)
you may have had. Your doctor will also try to determine whether you have any
medical conditions that might affect your risk of future allergic reactions or
your choice of treatments for the allergy.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.